IN the wake of the British Government forcing through its inhumane Rwanda plan, Glasgow finds itself at a pivotal moment once again reflecting on our values of compassion and solidarity in the face of an abhorrent piece of legislation.

The events that transpired on Kenmure Street in 2021 serves as a powerful testament to the unwavering spirit of solidarity, inclusivity and justice that defines us as Glaswegians.

READ MORE: Dramatic scenes broke out at Home Office in Glasgow

Glasgow Times: Police ScotlandPolice Scotland (Image: Sourced)

When immigration enforcement officers attempted to detain Sumit Sehdev and Lakhvir Singh from their homes, their community and their families and friends, thousands of Glaswegians from all walks of life took to the streets.

In a remarkable display of unity and resistance, thousands surrounded the deportation vans with one brave activist camping under the van for eight hours. The two men were finally released back to their homes.

It is these very callous acts of the Home Office, from the dawn raids to the Rwanda plan, that have galvanised a generation of activists and culture of migrant solidarity in Glasgow that will not allow our communities to be torn apart.

READ MORE: Crowds vow to stay as police gather at Govan immigration centre

The spirit of Kenmure Street echoed the sentiments of migrant solidarity movements before them like the Glasgow Girls, Campaign to Welcome Refugees and the Unity Centre – that in Glasgow, we will stand side by side with our neighbours, regardless of where they come from and the predicament they find themselves in.

It is against this backdrop of solidarity and compassion that Glaswegians took to the streets once again to protest the Home Office’s Rwanda plan after strong tip-offs there would be planned raids in both Perth and Denmilne Street.

The Rwanda scheme – which the Tories forced through Parliament – will result in thousands of asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda to have their asylum claim processed, despite the Supreme Court ruling the scheme unlawful.

A few days later, protesters gathered outside a Glasgow immigration reporting centre after reports that people were detained under the Rwanda scheme.

The events that have unfolded over the past week demonstrate the spirit of solidarity, compassion and selflessness witnessed on Kenmure Street lives on. It is this spirit that is the very essence of Glasgow – a city that refuses to turn a blind eye to injustice.

Glasgow Times: Migrants are to start being detained by the Home Office after the Rwanda Act was passed last week.Migrants are to start being detained by the Home Office after the Rwanda Act was passed last week. (Image: Sourced)

As we see the callous and inhumane Rwanda scheme come into fruition, ripping communities, families and friendship apart, these events will sadly become commonplace.

It is estimated that 52,000 asylum seekers could potentially be sent to Rwanda with 5700 asylum seekers identified for the first group of removal flights – all for the sake of a photo to put on Tory election leaflets.

The message from Glaswegians to the British Government is clear: asylum seekers are more than arbitrary numbers to bring down, they are our neighbours, friends, family and valued members of our community who are here to stay.

Make no mistake – the Rwanda scheme is not just a misguided and inhumane policy; it is a direct assault on the core values of Scotland.

We must continue to show solidarity to our friends facing a future of uncertainty on whether they can continue to call Glasgow their home.

What we witnessed last week is the Glasgow I am proud to be part of and is the Glasgow I am proud to represent and fight for.